Self-sealing container



J1me 1957 c. w. HEPPENSTALL 2,797,026

SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 10, 1955 IN VENTOR 0. 42455 WHfPfA/s 777,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Charles W. Heppenstall, Delray Beach, Fla. Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,386

1 Claim. ((11.222-190) This invention relates to a self-sealing container and more particularly to a dispenser which is specifically designed to exclude moisture from contact with the contents of the receptacle.

It is well know that containers for deliquescent substances such as salt have been designed heretofore. Such containers included various means for preventing the entrance of moisture such as, for example, closure means for the dispensing openings or hygroscopic means provided within the container. Such containers are not altogether eifective in that reliance was placed primarily on one type of moisture excluding means.

The present invention is designed to provide a dispenser of deliquescent materials which is particularly efiective in excluding moisture at all times. According to the present invention, there is provided a plastic container having a single dispensing opening and immediately adjacent this opening within the container there is provided a hygroscopic cap or button. There is tightly fitted within the container a valve seat which has an elongated tube integrally formed therewith. A valve in the form of a hygroscopic ball is seated within the valve seat and serves to seal ed the contents of the container from the outside atmosphere. During use, the receptacle is tipped to dislodge the valve trom the valve seat and permit the contents of the receptacle to pass through the dispensing opening.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container for deliquescent substances and more specifically for salt and the like which container is adapted to exclude moisture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing receptacle having a plurality of means therein designed to exclude moisture from the contents thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the parts in assembled position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing it can be seen from Fig. 1 that the device is formed of three parts, a base 1, a body portion 2 and a cap 3. Obviously, these parts may be made of any desired material but it has been found particularly desirable to form these parts of a plastic material which is capable of withstanding temperatures of 350 F. It can be seen that the cap 3 is provided with a single dispensing opening 4 and the body portion 2 is provided with threads 5 and 6 at its upper and lower edges respectively.

As can be readily seen from Fig. 2, the threads 5 on the upper edges of the body member cooperate with similar threads on the inner face of a flanged portion on the cap member 4. The base member 1 is provided with an outer flanged portion which is suitably threaded to cooperate with the threads 6 on the body member. The

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base member is. also provided with an upwardly extending central portion 7 which is adapted to fit within an undercut portion in the body member. Suitable gasket means 8 may be provided between the base member and the body portion to insure a tight scaling engagement between these parts.

Within the cap member 3 there is provided a diskshaped element 9 of hygroscopic material such as, for example, calcium chloride or silicagel. This member is formed with an aperture therethrough to coincide with the dispensing opening 4 in the cap. The hygroscopic material is maintained in place 'by a washer-like element 10 which is press fit within the cap. As shown, the inner face of the cap member is formed with a slight taper so that the washer 10 can tightly secure the hydroscopic element 9 in place.

Within an undercut seat portion in the body member 2 there is provided a valve seat 11 which is formed with an inverted conical upper portion and an elongated tube 12 integrally connected therewith. Gasket means 13 may suitably be provided between the upper flange on the valve seat and the undercut portion in the body member 2. The flange on the valve seat is of such thickness that, when the cap member 2 is screwed down tightly the flange exerts pressure on the gasket to form a tight seal therebetween.

Disposed within the conical valve seat is a ball 14 which may be made of a hygroscopic material such as, for X-,

ample, calcium chloride. It can be seen that in the normal position of the ball, as shown in Fig. 2, the receptacle 2 is sealed off from the outside atmosphere. The elongated tube 12 insures that only a small portion of the contents of the receptacle would be exposed evenif the valve member 12 should become dislodged. Under normal operating conditions some of the contents of the container will be within the tube and thus will form a closure to prevent moisture entering.

The present invention thus provides a means whereby moisture is excluded from the container. In use, the device is tipped so that the valve 14 is dislodged from its seat and the contents pass through the dispensing opening 4. Upon returning the receptacle to its upright position, the valve 14 will again be seated within element 11, thus excluding moisture. The hygroscopic element 9 also serves to prevent the entrance of moisture and keeps the air within the upper portion of the container relatively dry at all times.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. What is claimed as new and desired to .be secured by Letters Patent is:

A salt shaker comprising an apertured .cap having a body of hygroscopic material therein, means for removably retaining said body in the cap, a valve seat disposed within said salt shaker comprising a downwardly shaped conical upper portion the upper rim of which extends to the outer body of the shaker and a tube connected therewith extending into the salt shaker, said upper portion and tube having a continuous aperture, a spherical valve formed of hygroscopic material normally closing said aperture whereby the contents of the salt shaker are sealed ofi from the atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,366,963 Goldbert Jan. 9, 1945 2,492,830 Bannister Dec. 27, 1949 2,605,024- Clark July 29, 1952 

